Yanukovych is in Russia and may be granted asylum there

Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted president of Ukraine, said on Thursday that he remained the lawful president, and asked Russian authorities to grant his personal safety.

Viktor Yanukovych declared on Thursday that he remained the lawful president of the country and appealed to Russia to “secure my personal safety from the actions of extremists.” Russian news agencies reported that he had already arrived in Russia, but officials did not immediately confirm that.

Russian agency ITAR-TASS also reported linking its own sources in the government that Yanukovych got the guarantees of security in Russia.

“Due to the fact that President Yanukovych appealed to the authorities of the Russian Federation to ensure his personal safety, the request was granted on the territory of the Russian Federation," the source said.